Real Simple is one example of consumer media that offers thousands of topics to millions of homes. Lauren Phillips presents information about dog flu in this article. Consider sharing the article with pet owners via your own social media, website and blog posts.
Instagram-famous pooch Manny (@manny_the_frenchie) visited the Real Simple offices as part of a partnership with Merck Animal Health to help spread the word and promote early vaccination, especially for dogs living in densely populated areas.
Source: Dog flu Is a Real Danger – Here’s What You Need to Know, Real Simple, July 6, 2018. Link.
Dogs can catch it through direct contact with an infected dog, through an infected dog’s coughs or sneezes, or by playing with a contaminated object an infected dog came into contact with. The illness can spread dangerously quickly in close-quarters situations such as at doggie day cares, in enclosed dog parks, or at grooming centers. (Pets housed in animal shelters are especially vulnerable.)
The virus can even spread by being carried on human clothing, so you could potentially bring the disease home by petting an infected dog on the street and then heading home to your own pup; the virus (again, harmless to humans) can live on hands and clothing for several hours. If you hire a dog sitter or walker who cares for several different dogs in different homes throughout the day, this could easily affect your dog.
INSIGHTS: Animal health manufacturers like Merck are working to inform consumers. Share this article with your teams so they are prepared to answer questions from pet owners who may have viewed a similar article.